IEN Radio
682 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingRadio for manufacturing and engineering professionals. New industrial products, news and technical articles.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Hyperloop One Shuts Down
January 04, 2024 21:00 - 2 minutes - 1.56 MBHyperloop One, a transportation technology startup that focused on commercializing high-speed travel through tube-encased lines, has reportedly shut down. Bloomberg cited an anonymous source familiar with the situation who claimed that Hyperloop had laid off most of its employees and is attempting to sell its remaining assets, including machinery and a test track. The report added that the startup closed its office in Los Angeles and set December 31 as the last date of employment for its re...
Boeing Company's X-Plane Could Change Aviation as We Know It
January 03, 2024 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.93 MBWhen Wilbur and Orville Wright successfully flew the first controllable aircraft in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the 12-second flight was achieved using wind warping, a system of movable, external control surfaces that nearly every aircraft has used for flight control since. The CRANE project from DARPA and Aurora Flight Sciences could change everything we know about modern flight. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podca...
Stellantis Calls Back 165 Workers the Week Before Christmas
December 22, 2023 17:00 - 2 minutes - 1.53 MBIn March, Stellantis idled its plant in Belvidere, Illinois, as part of a transition from internal combustion to EVs. At the time, CEO Brad Tavares said Stellantis needed to "adapt to this new world," and some 1,350 workers were laid off indefinitely. Well, about seven days before Christmas, some 165 Stellantis employees came back to work. This week, the workers returned to full-time positions, supporting operations for the company's parts and service division, Mopar. Download and listen...
Deli Products Manufacturer Owes $3M for Overtime Violations
December 21, 2023 20:00 - 2 minutes - 1.54 MBA joint investigation into a meat processing and packaging plant in Elk Grove, Illinois, has uncovered $3 million in back wages, damages and interest for 283 workers following violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law. The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and the Illinois Office of the Attorney General discovered that deli products manufacturer Greenridge Farms Inc. paid workers a single rate for their hours worked from at least 2013 to 2022. H...
Hyundai to Sell Russia Plant for $77
December 20, 2023 16:00 - 1 minute - 1.41 MBAs the Russian war in Ukraine continues to drag on, collateral damage persists, impacting land, people and the business community. The latest corporate victim in this saga is multinational automaker, Hyundai, who announced this week that it will sell its plant in Russia for a tremendous loss. The Hyundai factory in St. Petersberg, which suspended operations back in March of 2022, is believed to be worth some $219 million. Company officials said they will sell it to a Russian firm for 10,00...
Teamsters Vote to Authorize Strike at Anheuser-Busch
December 19, 2023 23:00 - 2 minutes - 1.52 MBThe International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced that members at Anheuser-Busch have voted to authorize a strike if the brewing company does not meet demands for a new contract. The vote received 99% approval. Should the labor union and Anheuser-Busch fail to agree on a new contract by the upcoming Leap Day (February 29th), up to 5,000 workers across the company’s 12 breweries in the U.S. could go on strike. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to ...
Insect Shield Accused of Falsifying Army Uniform Testing
December 19, 2023 15:00 - 2 minutes - 1.75 MBOn Friday, the Justice Department announced a new complaint against Insect Shield and the company's late founder, Richard Lane, under the False Claims Act for allegedly submitting fake claims to the Department of Defense regarding contracts to provide Army combat uniforms. Insect Shield manufactures insect-repellent clothing technology that gives apparel invisible and odorless protection against mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges through 70 launderings. Download and liste...
EPA Could Soon Ban Chemicals Used to Make Plastics
December 15, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.5 MBThe EPA revealed that it would begin the process of prioritizing toxic chemicals used to manufacture and process plastics under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The statutory process will last a year, during which the agency could designate the chemicals as high-priority substances. If they receive the designation, it would spark risk evaluations that could result in restrictions or outright bans. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in ...
Rope Failure Causes $5 Million in Damages
December 14, 2023 22:00 - 2 minutes - 1.76 MBIn yet another instance of the cost of catastrophic failure likely outweighing the cost of maintenance, a rope has racked up millions in damages after failing. In July 2022, cargo ship Thorco Basilisk was offloading part of a wind turbine at Greensport Terminal on the Houston Ship Channel in Houston. In the process, a hoisting rope broke on the ship-mounted crane. When it did, it caused the component to fall onto the ship’s cargo tween deck, causing between $3 million and $5 million in dama...
Ford to Cut F-150 Lightning Production in Half
December 14, 2023 14:00 - 2 minutes - 1.86 MBThe last few weeks have been packed with news on electric pickups – from the delivery of the first handful of Tesla Cybertrucks to – now – news from Ford that it will be scaling back its electric version of the F-150. Automotive News is reporting that Ford plans to reduce production of its Lightning full EV pickup by 50% starting in January. They cite a document allegedly sent to a Ford supplier expressing that the automaker will scale back its run rate from 3,200 trucks to about 1,600 truc...
Raytheon to Create ‘Energy Webs’ to Charge Aircraft in Flight During Battle
December 12, 2023 20:00 - 3 minutes - 2.19 MBEnergy harvesting is a novel way to keep devices charged, primarily in remote and harsh environments. Well, it doesn't get more harsh or remote than aerial warfare, which makes a new deal between Raytheon and DARPA, the Department of Defense’s arm that invests in breakthrough technologies for national security, all the more intriguing. Raytheon recently received a $10 million contract from the agency to design and develop "energy webs," a wireless airborne relay system that can deliver ene...
Medical Device CEO Guilty After ‘Publicity Blitz’ Bilks Investors
December 11, 2023 20:00 - 2 minutes - 1.89 MBBefore the COVID-19 pandemic hit, California medical device company Decision Diagnostics (DECN) was in trouble. Keith Berman, the 70-year-old CEO of the manufacturer of low-cost home testing devices and test strips, said his company needed a "new story." According to internal emails, he said the company needed a new narrative to "raise millions." So, he got creative, a little too creative and from February to December 2020, Berman went on a "publicity blitz," falsely claiming his company de...
VW EVs Can Now Power Your Home for Up to 2 Days
December 08, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.91 MBBi-drectional charging is one of those concepts that sound really good in theory. When your power goes out, an electric vehicle with a full battery could send power back to your home, eliminating the need to waste the contents of a full refrigerator. Up to this point, automakers have been dabbling with these capabilities and, while it isn’t exactly mainstream just yet, Volkswagen just announced some developments towards this closed loop for homeowners and EV owners alike. Download and list...
Gen Z in Manufacturing: Gen Z Wants More Responsibility, Sense of Purpose
December 07, 2023 16:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBWelcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I interview young workers about their jobs in the manufacturing industry and what they look for from an employer. For this episode, I welcome Davis Latham, a 24-year-old vice president of operations at CADmore, a design and engineering company that helps customers with a range of services related to manufacturing and product development. Latham was not specifically looking to work in the design and engineering field afte...
Facility Manager Sentenced to Prison for $20M Kickback Scheme
December 06, 2023 17:00 - 3 minutes - 2.25 MBA 69-year-old facility manager has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison following a guilty plea for a kickback scheme that defrauded his employer of over $20 million. According to a Department of Justice press release, Elliott Dennis Kleinman and fellow facility manager Eugene DiNoto used their management positions to launch a fraudulent billing scheme at their workplace, dubbed "Company 1" in the DOJ release. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subs...
Nearly 200-Year-Old Gun Factory Shutting Down
December 06, 2023 00:00 - 2 minutes - 2.01 MBRemArms, the gun maker behind the Remington brand, has decided to shut down its manufacturing facility in Ilion, New York. RemArms anticipates the plant will close in March 2024, according to a letter sent to union officials that was obtained by the Observer-Dispatch. The closure will bring to end a long relationship between Remington and the small upstate New York town. The company has been making firearms in Ilion since 1816 and, according to Fox 5, the factory has been around in some for...
Company Accused of Using Same Equipment to Make Hand Sanitizer, Brake Parts Cleaner
December 05, 2023 15:00 - 2 minutes - 1.74 MBThe FDA sent a warning letter to a Wisconsin chemical company, accusing it of manufacturing hand sanitizer with the same equipment used to produce automotive brake parts cleaner. The FDA contends that Brenntag Great Lakes’ actions violated Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations. The issue dates back to inspections, when the FDA alleged that Brenntag used the same equipment to make hand sanitizer and industrial chemicals. The agency asserted in its warning letter that the co...
Maintenance Error Leads to $1.2 Million Fire
December 05, 2023 15:00 - 2 minutes - 2.05 MBOn April 29, 2022, the 600-foot-long chemical tanker, the Endo Breeze, was in the Raritan Bay between New York and New Jersey when oil spray from a fuel injector pump on the starboard main engine ignited off nearby hot surfaces and caused a fire. The crew successfully stopped the fire from spreading by removing fuel and oxygen sources and activating the vessel's fixed fire extinguishing system. However, while no pollution or injuries were reported, the blaze still caused some $1.2 million in...
Firearms Manufacturer Abandons Plans for Florida Facility
November 30, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.72 MBIn June 2021, firearms maker Dark Storm Industries announced plans to relocate manufacturing from New York to Titusville, Florida. The company intended to build a new 25,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing plant in the Sunshine State, foreseeing a capital investment of approximately $3.2 million and 87 new jobs. However, Florida Today has reported that the company, which caters specifically to the AR platform modern sporting rifles, elected not to build a new facility and, as a r...
U.S. Steel to Permanently Idle Steelmaking at Ill. Facility
November 30, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.68 MBBack in September, U.S. Steel announced that it would be temporarily idling a blast furnace in Granite City, Illinois and pointed the finger at the UAW. At the time, leadership at the plant called the shutdown “risk mitigation” as the strike softened demand for steel from automotive customers. Fast forward a few months, and the strike has been resolved but things for U.S. Steel’s Granite City facility haven’t. Recently it was revealed that the company has issued a WARN notice, citing plans ...
Handheld Radio Battery Fire Causes Millions in Damage
November 27, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.74 MBOn November 13, 2022, at about 3:30 pm, a fire broke out on the bridge of the S-Trust, an oil tanker that was docked in Baton Rouge. While no one was injured, the accident caused some $3 million in damage. According to the NTSB, the fire was traced to the thermal runaway of a cell in an ultra-high-frequency handheld radio's lithium-ion battery. The batteries and chargers for the radios were placed on a communications table on the bridge. Luckily, the vessel's crew was able to extinguish th...
Manufacturer Sticks with 4-Day Workweek
November 21, 2023 16:00 - 3 minutes - 2.13 MBBased in Willoughby, Ohio, Advanced RV isn't your typical small manufacturer. The company makes luxury custom motorhomes out of Mercedes cargo vans. Last year, the company was one of some 200 companies that took part in a trial to see if a global four-day workweek was possible. Not only was it possible, but according to a recent NPR interview, the company has no intention of ever going back to the old way of doing business. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to...
Calif. City Buys, Shutters Asphalt Factory After Years of Odor Complaints
November 20, 2023 22:00 - 2 minutes - 1.91 MBResidents of an Irvine, California neighborhood are breathing a sigh of relief after finally reaching a conclusion to years of contentious debate over a factory. All American Asphalt set up shop in 1993 in an area described by local news organization Voice of OC as having “nothing around it.” But as the years went by and more of the adjacent land was developed with housing, along with it came controversy. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Tod...
GM Scoops Up Vital Tesla Supplier
November 16, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.81 MBGigacasting is changing the automotive industry. The technology was pioneered by Tesla and gave the EV maker a substantial lead in the EV market by cutting out several components and processes with a single press by a massive 9,000-ton machine. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
Autonomous Electric Truck Now Working Full-Time at GE Appliances
November 15, 2023 17:00 - 3 minutes - 2.34 MBLast year, GE Appliances and Einride successfully completed a pair of pilots that employed a heavy-duty, autonomous, electric vehicle from Einride driven on public roads to move finished goods from a Monogram Refrigeration plant to a nearby warehouse in Selmer, TN. Monogram Refrigeration is a subsidiary of GE Appliances, which is owned by Chinese multinational Haier. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
Tesla Threatens to Sue Would-Be Cybertruck Resellers
November 14, 2023 17:00 - 2 minutes - 1.77 MBAfter years of anticipation, Cybertruck delivery day is almost here. But anyone thinking about flipping their new electric truck for a profit better check the fine print on Tesla’s order agreement. The automaker added some Cybertruck-only provisions to the document and they’re designed to ensure owners can’t resell their vehicles right away. The new terms forbid Cybertruck owners from selling their futuristic rides within the first year following the vehicle’s delivery date. Download and l...
The Google of Hyper-Local Food Manufacturing
November 13, 2023 21:00 - 5 minutes - 4.04 MBIn April, supermarket company Southeastern Grocers (SEG) announced a collaboration with a Canadian startup called Relocalize. The collaboration focused on a pilot ice manufacturing project that would place one of the startup’s autonomous ice for micro-factories at SEG's Jacksonville Distribution Center. Wayne McIntyre, co-founder and CEO of Relocalize, said the startup was formed to introduce hyper-local production to food systems. It began with the concept of producing food in a container...
Fake Safety Checks, Barefoot Workers at Plant Blamed for Contaminated Eye Drops
November 13, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.78 MBAn Indian factory stands accused of being the source of contaminated eye drops that have consumers on edge. The US Food and Drug Administration recently released an alert, claiming that more than two dozen over the counter eye drop products posed potential risk to consumers. The FDA pointed to 26 products being sold at major retailers including Target, Rite Aid and CVS, warning that it was possible these products were not, in fact, sterile. They say that applying these remedies via the eye...
Folks Lining Up for Elon Musk's Brain Implants
November 09, 2023 19:00 - 2 minutes - 2.01 MBElon Musk’s brain implant startup Neuralink has attracted lots of criticism and skepticism but it also seems to have generated a lot of optimism for the thousands of potential patients interested in human trials. The company earlier this year got FDA approval to begin human trials and began recruiting shortly thereafter. According to a lengthy Bloomberg profile on Neuralink, the ambitions for human brain implants start slow with 11 surgeries planned for next year, but they expand to more th...
3M Knew Process Was Dangerous Before Fatal Accident, OSHA Says
November 08, 2023 17:00 - 3 minutes - 2.4 MBIn February 2022, a 63-year-old worker was killed at a 3M (NYSE: MMM) plant in Alexandria, Minnesota. The worker became entangled with a machine during the overnight shift. A few months after the accident, the company assessed its equipment at U.S. and Canadian plants. According to OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan, after 3M completed its investigation, it "determined powered rollers were hazards in need of safety improvement." Download and listen to the audio version below and cli...
Pfizer to Cut $3.5B in Costs, Close NJ Plant
November 07, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.92 MBThere was a time when the world was heavy with anticipation for COVID vaccines and boosters — to the point where desperate consumers were lining up for their chance for an inoculation that was tantamount, for many, to a “get out of quarantine free card.” But three years past the initial panic of the COVID-19 pandemic, and two years into mass vaccinations, things have stabilized. And while most of it is good for humankind, pharma companies at the forefront of these solutions are now facing s...
Gen Z in Manufacturing: Young Workers Can Challenge the Traditional Process
November 07, 2023 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBWelcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast where I interview young workers about their jobs in the manufacturing industry and what they look for from an employer. For this episode, I welcome Max Fisher, a 25-year-old product manager at Infor, a company that provides business cloud software products specialized by industry. Fisher began working for Infor in 2021 after graduating from Furman and Clemson. While in college, Fisher collected three bachelor’s degrees, two ma...
Tesla May Soon Build a Much More Affordable EV
November 06, 2023 22:00 - 2 minutes - 2.02 MBElectric vehicles are still an emerging market and price is one of the major factors still tripping up wider spread adoption. But Tesla may have a plan in place to build a much more affordable EV. According to a report from Reuters, the U.S.-based automaker is planning production for a 25,000-euro electric vehicle at its factory near Berlin. That price would put it at just less than $27,000, considerably lower than the current average going rate. Download and listen to the audio version be...
Weapon Designed to Avoid
November 02, 2023 17:00 - 2 minutes - 1.9 MBFN Herstal’s new Smart ProtectoR 303-T is being positioned as a less-lethal option for use by law enforcement for crowd control, riots and day-to-day patrols when avoiding lethal force is crucial. It’s designed to be accurate enough to single out individuals and built to shoot projectiles that the company said break up on impact and deliver a “highly dissuasive impact similar to a baton strike.” Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manuf...
Michelin to Wind Down Okla. Tire Production, Cut 1,400 Jobs
October 31, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.73 MBWorkforce number took a hit last week when announced that it would be winding down its tire making operations in Ardmore, Oklahoma, eliminating 1,400 jobs with it. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
Marines Test Robot Goat with Rocket Launcher
October 30, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 2.08 MBMarines with the Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group (TTECG), along with the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MCAGCC) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR), recently tested a quadruped robotic platform referred to as the “robotic goat.” Though it bears a slight resemblance to a goat, particularly in terms of movement, it’s actually a remote-controlled device built for multiple mission applications. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subs...
Ammo Maker to Pay $630,000 to Settle Discrimination Allegations
October 24, 2023 16:00 - 2 minutes - 1.66 MBOlin Corp, is a Clayton, Missouri-based manufacturer of chemicals, epoxy and small arms and ammunition. The company, which was founded in 1892, acquired Winchester Repeating Arms in 1931 and has grown to become a top global producer and the leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition. Olin supplies the Air Force and other federal agencies with small arms ammunition and, in a recent routine compliance investigation, the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found ...
Cleveland-Cliffs to Spend $100M as Atonement for Breaching 2015 Settlement
October 23, 2023 17:00 - 2 minutes - 1.57 MBEditor's Note: This description has been updated to reflect the fact that Cleveland-Cliffs has already spent $100 million on a new electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for its facility in Dearborn, Michigan. Steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs faced costly modifications to an eight-year-old consent decree that was supposed to address air emissions at the company’s manufacturing plant in Dearborn, Michigan. The consent decree involved the U.S. government, the state of Michigan and AK Steel, which Cleve...
Elon Musk Says Tesla 'Dug Its Own Grave' with Cybertruck
October 20, 2023 15:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MBTesla’s upcoming Cybertruck will likely go down in history as one of the more bizarre production vehicles ever to make it to market. From its angular body reminiscent of Nintendo 64 graphics, to its single, absurdly long windshield wiper blade. But before the first Cybertruck rolls off the line, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is making sure to temper investors’ excitement over his company’s latest EV. During Tesla’s earnings call this week, Musk said there will be “enormous challenges” with scaling pr...
Robots Make Slackers Out of Their Human Colleagues, Report Suggests
October 20, 2023 13:00 - 3 minutes - 2.27 MBThere’s a saying in manufacturing: a solid business finds ways to work smarter, not harder. And with the advent of industrial automation – that’s taking place at many levels. But a recent study published in the scientific journal, "Frontiers in Robotics and AI" suggests there may be some unique gaps in this theory: they say humans who work with robots may actually be more likely to slack off while on the job. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to t...
Fourth Generation Shop to Close If Buyer Falls Through
October 17, 2023 16:00 - 3 minutes - 2.19 MBIn late September, Superior Die Set Corporation, a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturer of steel and aluminum products, notified the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development of its intent to close the company's plant in Oak Creek, WI. According to Superior Die, the move comes as a result of decreased order volume, and the layoffs could happen soon. By November 20, 2023, 133 employees might be out of work. Workers, their collective bargaining reps and other local officials were ...
Gen Z in Manufacturing: Employers Should Put Emphasis on 'We Will Train You'
October 17, 2023 14:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBWelcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast series in which I interview young workers about their jobs in the manufacturing industry and what they look for from an employer. For this installment, I welcome Tomas Guillen, a 25-year-old controls engineer at Patti Engineering, a company that integrates automation, robotic and digitalization technologies in industrial facilities. Guillen began his time at Patti as an intern and became a full-time employee in June 2022. Afte...
Yuengling Wants in on Bud Light Fallout
October 16, 2023 18:00 - 3 minutes - 2.29 MBThough Modelo jumped into the top spot as America's best-selling beer, other brands are also seeing explosive growth. The beer rush has caused DG Yuengling & Son to continue selling out, and it's now America's fourth fastest-growing beer brand. According to a new report from the New York Post, sales have spiked 22% for the company through early last month, and that's with distribution in only half of the country — Yuengling is only sold in 26 states, though it is certainly craved by more. ...
Lordstown’s Former CEO Buys Company’s Remains in Bankruptcy Bid
October 13, 2023 17:00 - 2 minutes - 1.67 MBLordstown Motors is back in the headlines as some familiar faces have reentered the picture three months after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to an SEC filing, when Lordstown began voluntary proceedings under Chapter 11 in June, the company’s “selling entities” approved an auction to sell the company’s assets. The bankruptcy court approved the bidding procedures, and the selling entities received a qualifying bid from a limited liability company called L...
U.S. Solar Co. Who Filed Bankruptcy in '18 to Reopen Idled Factory
October 13, 2023 13:00 - 2 minutes - 1.66 MBA solar cell manufacturing facility in Georgia that closed its doors several years back has apparently been down this whole time, but not out. Solar manufacturing company Suniva has announced plans to reopen a facility in Norcross, Georgia it idled in 2017 prior to a bankruptcy filing. The company also closed a Michigan plant during the same period. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
94-Year-Old Toilet Maker Closing Up Shop
October 12, 2023 12:00 - 2 minutes - 1.76 MBMansfield Plumbing Products has a 94-year legacy in Perrysville, Ohio. Founded in 1929, the company is the fourth-largest employer in the county and makes toilets and sinks. According to the Mansfield News Journal, the company recently announced plans to close the factory on December 31, 2023, cutting some 277 employees in the process; about 220 are represented by the Teamsters. The company says severance and health insurance will be available to impacted employees, though it is based on ...
Coal Industry On Track to Shed 1 Million Jobs
October 10, 2023 18:00 - 2 minutes - 1.64 MBAccording to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. coal industry will see nearly a quarter of its operating plants sunset by the end of the decade – a pace that EIA says is actually slower than the aggressive closure activity of the decade before. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
Price Cuts Mean Tesla Model 3 Cost on Par with Toyota Corolla
October 09, 2023 19:00 - 2 minutes - 1.97 MBAccording to Bloomberg, Tesla – who has been cutting prices incrementally on its electrics for the better part of a year – has reached a new low. And that’s not bad news for customers, who can now buy a Tesla for the same amount, or less than, the average price of a gasoline powered car. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.
Kia Calls New EV SUV a 'Wake-Up Call to the Industry'
October 06, 2023 13:00 - 2 minutes - 1.99 MBIf you’ve shopped around for a new vehicle lately, you know that prices are crazy. Recent analysis from Kelley Blue Book puts the average new vehicle price in the U.S. at around $48,000. That’s up only $199 from one year ago, but it’s considerably higher than the pre-pandemic average of around $38,000. Kia has apparently noticed this too and took current consumer costs into consideration when deciding the starting price for its upcoming 2024 Kia EV9, the automaker’s first three-row electri...
Porsche Scuttles Resellers with New 911 Leasing Requirement
October 04, 2023 15:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MBThe new car market has been the scene of a ton of drama over the last few years, and when you pair scarcity with demand, the creative solutions tend to flow. For some high demand vehicle models, that has resulted in an active resale market – so much so that automakers have had to apply preventative measures to stop individuals from reselling new vehicles for a profit. Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.